Identity Theft

Last year it was revealed that some properties in Western Australia had been sold out from under their overseas owners by fraudsters. Consumers, government and agents were so horrified they acted quickly to introduce new laws to protect the identity of property owners and prevent any more cases of property scams in the state. But the new identity requirements to combat the property scams have come under fire from a Perth real estate agent, who says the storage of personal data could be opening up further potential for identity theft. We look [...]

Technology law expert Profressor Faye Jones and University of South Australia law lecturer Dr Clare Sullivan warn that the rising menace of extreme identity theft looms large. In a UniSA law seminar ‘Extreme identity theft: an international challenge’ they spoke about the ongoing threat of identity theft. We look at their release to the media on this fascinating topic. They implore people to understand how valuable their personal information is, and to guard it accordingly. No one wants to end up a victim of identity theft, and have their credit file misused. [...]

Media Release Don’t launch a cyber-assault on Australian businesses - just look in their rubbish bins. 21 February 2013 The identities of thousands of Australian consumers could be at risk every day through simply having their personal information dumped into the rubbish bins of Australian businesses, and a consumer advocate for accurate credit reporting says this practice is an appalling oversight when personal information has become so valuable to fraudsters. The National Association of Information Destruction (NAID-ANZ), which is the peak body for the secure destruction industry, recently hired a detective agency [...]

Media Release Threat of identity theft looms as business cyber-assaults take new form. 20 February 2013 The ramping up of efforts by fraudsters to go after Australian businesses holding personal information could contribute to a greater risk of identity theft and subsequent credit fraud for Australian consumers, warns a consumer advocate for accurate credit reporting. Yesterday new Attorney-General, Mark Dreyfus QC advised that recent national survey results for more than 250 major businesses show cyber-crime is becoming increasingly targeted and coordinated, with one in five businesses experiencing one in the last year. [...]

Media Release Lonely hearts ripped out and ripped off this Valentine’s Day by scams. 7 February 2013 A warning this Valentine’s Day for those who use internet dating: be on the lookout for scammers. A consumer advocate for accurate credit reporting warns that getting sucked in by a scammer may not only leave you broken hearted, but can also leave you broke. CEO of MyCRA Credit Rating Repair, Graham Doessel warns that because of the personal nature of dating scams, many intimate personal details may be shared, and scammers could not only [...]

Media Release Safer Internet Day: Protect your child's identity online 5 February 2013 On Safer Internet Day, parents and carers need to know their kids may be risking their identity and future credit rating by posting volumes of personal information to open forums and other sites, a consumer advocate for accurate credit reporting warns. “The harsh reality is if you’re a young person in Australia today you are not immune to identity fraud. Even though you are not yet credit active the personal information you make public today could be used against [...]

Media Release Flood evacuation: Prepare early and secure your important documents from fraudsters. 29 January 2013 With residents continuing to evacuate flooded homes across Queensland and Northern New South Wales, a consumer advocate for accurate credit reporting is warning Australians that their important papers need to be ready to leave with them should they be forced to evacuate their homes, in order to prevent both loss and theft of identity. CEO of MyCRA Credit Rating Repair, Graham Doessel says if people need to leave their homes, it is important that their emergency [...]

Media Release Be bushfire ready: Protect your important documents and protect your good name. 10 January 2013 With this week’s record heatwave fuelling bushfires across the country, a consumer advocate for accurate credit reporting is warning Australians that their important papers need to be disaster -ready to prevent both loss and theft of identity. CEO of MyCRA Credit Rating Repair, Graham Doessel says if Australians need to leave their homes at any time during a disaster - whether that be a bushfire, storm, or flood they need to ensure their important documents [...]

Media Release Stay safe on Australia’s biggest day of online commerce Buying presents online is bigger than ever this year, and it has been announced by online commerce experts that Sunday December 9 2012 is predicted to be the biggest day of online retail in Australia’s history. With this in mind a consumer advocate for accurate credit reporting is warning Australians to be vigilant with their personal information, as credit card fraud is not the only way unsuspecting consumers can be ripped off online. CEO of MyCRA Credit Rating Repair, Graham Doessel [...]

If we can learn anything from recent reports of more Australian cyber-crime victims, we must learn that personal information is so important to keep safe. Not only is today’s cyber-crook or scammer after your money – they are after the money you can borrow – through obtaining credit in your name. The recent arrests of seven Romanian people in Australia’s largest credit card data theft investigation in which those criminals had access to 500,000 Australian credit cards is a chilling reminder to all Australians that we are not immune to fraud and identity [...]